WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Former Sedgwick County Commissioner Michael O’Donnell was fined $25,000 on Wednesday after admitting to nine campaign finance violations.
The Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission fined O’Donnell for violations that included using campaign money for personal use and fraudulent reporting. He was accused of funneling money to four friends, who he falsely claimed were campaign workers, The Wichita Eagle reported.
O’Donnell resigned from the Sedgwick County Commission in November rather than face o uster procedures for his role in a false attack ad against Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple and a subsequent cover-up during the 2019 mayoral race.
On Wednesday, O’Donnell asked that the fine be set below $10,000 because he said he is “broke” since resigning from the commission.
The ethics commission said half of the $25,000 would be forgiven if O’Donnell pays $12,500 within 90 days.
In March of 2019, jurors in federal court acquitted O’Donnell on 21 counts of wire fraud. After they deadlocked on two counts of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering, federal prosecutors asked the court to drop the charges.